Archive for the ‘Guest Post’ Category

A luxury kitchen is more than the sum of its appliances. A focal point of the home, it makes a statement about you to your guests. Appliances serve more than merely the expected function, but personify and reveal your personality. This February when Jenn-Air unveils its Accolade™ Downdraft Ventilation System, it will command attention for both its iconic design and its extraordinary performance.

This 36-inch, super-premium downdraft ventilation system will generate a lot of noise in the media, but not in the upscale kitchens in which it will silently premiere. Exquisitely fashioned from glass and stainless steel, the Accolade™ Downdraft Ventilation System has a timeless design that is reminiscent of the graceful, soaring curves of the Gateway Arch.

The following is a guest post from our friends at Allstate Insurance. You can never be too careful when cooking in your kitchen. Check out Allstate’s blog for the latest in insurance and life’s safety tips. Here are their tips to stay safe when making meals at home.

Cooking is an activity that brings together family and friends in the kitchen, the hub of the house.

But if cooks aren’t careful, they may quickly discover the downside of a hot flame or oven. Cooking is the leading cause of home fires (one out of every three), according to the National Fire Protection Association.

A long, billowy sleeve too close to a gas stove could singe, a hot frying pan with bubbling oil may ignite, or grease spilled in a hot oven could turn to flames when a cook steps away briefly to answer a door.

But, safe cooking isn’t a tough recipe to follow. It just requires focus. Here are 10 key precautions to help prevent a kitchen fire:

More and more big-budget actions films are showing up in 3D versions and it was inevitable that the third dimension would make its way to the small screen. Still in its infancy, however, it’s come a long way, but still has a ways to go before it becomes standard fare among consumers and television providers alike. (more…)

The equipment in your kitchen can inspire you and your family to improve your eating habits. As a nation, we’ve become dependent on microwaved ready meals, which is a huge contributor to the obesity crisis. Whether it be innovative gadgets which add a little fun to cooking or useful appliances that make food preparation a lot easier, there are a huge variety of products on the market to choose from.

The following is a guest post from Linda Levene, the head designer at LLi Design –interiordesignLondon. LLi specialise in high end residential and commercial interiors. Linda also publishes a regular blog on interior design, trends and products.http://www.ll–i.co.uk While not written by Abt, we loved the article and wanted to share it with you – our readers.

When the sun starts shining we all love the thought of outdoor entertaining – if you have the weather there’s nothing nicer than being able to prepare food outdoors as well as eating it.

The humble barbeque has come a long long way from it’s roots. The must have item now is to have an outdoor kitchen. At the luxurious end of things this incorporates oven, wood burning pizza oven, sink and fridge.

However if space is a problem why not extend your kitchen worktop into the garden as architect John Pawson did (above), thereby allowing the cook to use the space outside as a kitchen whilst not duplicating appliances or using up valuable garden.

Another sleek answer to creating an outdoor kitchen is to bring the outdoors in. This home (below) by the architects

Eldridge Smerin, in Highgate London incorporates a retractable roof that gives the sensation of an outdoor kitchen, perfect for an urban environment.

However if your tastes aren’t for the sleek and minimal an outdoor kitchen can be created to blend more with the outside by incorporating a pergola, plants and using more naturalistic materials.

Creating an outdoor kitchen is an opportunity to create something unique. This is an environment that’s purely for pleasure. This is where you’ll entertain and enjoy life, so it’s a chance to be as creative as possible. Start by thinking about the atmosphere you want to create and when you’ll be using your outdoor kitchen -day or evening? Family gatherings or sophisticated groups of friends?

A few practical things to consider when you create your outdoor kitchen. First, you’ll need shelter from sun or rain. Consider lighting for evening cooking – both task lighting to see what you’re cooking and ambient lighting to really give your kitchen atmosphere. This is where you can really go to town with lanterns, chandeliers or candles.

You’ll need an area to prepare food as well as cook it – so even if you don’t want something custom made you could use a sturdy work bench or table. It’s also nice to incorporate shelving to display plants and crockery. When creating your outdoor kitchen, think about where your guests will be and how they’ll interact with you whilst you’re preparing the food. You don’t want to have your back turned to them as you cook. It’s important to ensure that your space is as sociable as possible. This is a fantastic way to extend the summer and make the most of outdoor living so if you’ve ever hankered after one now is the time to create your outdoor kitchen.

The following is a guest post from Stephanie Staszko, a UK blogger from BathShop321.com. While not written by Abt, we loved the article and wanted to share it with you – our readers.

As technology has evolved, modern homes have become increasingly accustomed to “techy” items. A home without a television or fridge freezer often raises eyebrows, but domestic tech as gone far beyond that. Nowadays, there are so many electronic gadgets to indulge in you could have something geeky for every room of the house. Sound too good to be true? Read on to find out how to create the perfect futuristic home through indulgent gadgetry! (more…)